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Book #11 of 2016: An Heiress for His Empire by Lucy Monroe

The story: Innocent debutante Madison Archer has hit the headlines for a scandal not of her making. Now, marriage to the unscrupulous Viktor Beck is the only way to save what’s left of her reputation!The contract: Maddie has always featured in Viktor’s plans to take over her father’s company and expand his empire. The intense attraction between them only sweetens the deal he’s offeredThe secret: Though love doesn’t beat in Viktor’s heart, he’ll show Maddie just how hot their chemistry can be. But even this corporate shark is in for a shock;his wild socialite is still a virgin!

I have a guilty pleasure for Harlequins. Especially the Harlequin Presents books. They have drama, romance, and characters who have moxie. That said, I didn’t care for this book at all.

There is chemistry between the hero and heroine. Viktor is a business savvy man with a plan and he always gets what he wants. He doesn’t deceive people to get it, despite the fact that the only way to get the company he wants is by marrying the boss’ daughter; via a contract. Maddie is a strong woman with an even stronger passion for helping the underpriveleged. She is an eyesore to her father, but she has decided to not let that get in her way.

I thought at first the idea of a contractual marriage was going to be the biggest conflict. I was envisioning Viktor wooeing Maddie and realizing that it wasn’t just the business he wanted, but her as well. However, that didn’t happen. Then I was hoping that another dramatic moment would happen. Alas, the only other dramatic moment was ironed out in under a chapter.

With a lacking conflict, the story felt short of what I was hoping. I love being in the midst of the romance and personal drama of my book’s characters. When the drama isn’t there, the characters have to be pretty spectacular to keep me reading. Unfortunately, the characters weren’t bad, but they didn’t have the gumption to take the brunt of the story.